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How can a single spark kindle a Prairie fire? Diffusion process and mechanism of medical disruptive innovation

Xiuping Lai (School of Business, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China)
Wenhong Zhang (School of Business, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China and National Institute of Healthcare Data Science at Nanjing University, Nanjing, China)
Silei Chen (National Institute of Healthcare Data Science at Nanjing University, Nanjing, China and Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China)

Chinese Management Studies

ISSN: 1750-614X

Article publication date: 24 September 2024

55

Abstract

Purpose

Medical disruptive innovation is essential for deepening the reform of health-care system. The theory of general disruptive innovation assumes that innovations can diffuse by benefiting and attracting consumers through observed and objective relative advantages. Yet decision-makers for adoption in health-care settings are safety-sensitive professionals whose cognitions barriers about underperformance in focal attributes will impede further evaluation of innovation's ancillary performance. Existing studies do not answer the question of how such innovations can overcome safety barriers, find early adopters and grow to the early majority. The purpose of this study is to investigate the process, mechanism, and path of early diffusion of medical disruptive innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conduct a longitudinal case study of the diffusion of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) in China during 2011–2018.

Findings

The authors find that the diffusion process of medical disruptive innovations can be viewed as a cognitive evolutionary process that sequentially establishes conformity, differentiation and normalization. Cognition reframing of expert, meaning and benefit for professionals is its implicit mechanism. When adoption may trigger cognitive concerns, actors’ very early (dis)adoption is driven by a combination of structural position, innovation attributes and performance perceptions; central actors then play amplifier roles in the development from early adopters to the early majority.

Originality/value

This study proposes a process theoretical framework for the early diffusion of disruptive innovation. By dissecting the key processes and mechanisms from a cognitive perspective, the study offers theoretical contributions and practical insights into the diffusion of disruptive innovation in professional settings.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors are very thankful to Ting Wang, Dr Gang Wang and Dr Zhiwei Jiang for their facilitation of during the data collection process.

Funding: This research is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (72072083; 72404073).

Citation

Lai, X., Zhang, W. and Chen, S. (2024), "How can a single spark kindle a Prairie fire? Diffusion process and mechanism of medical disruptive innovation", Chinese Management Studies, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/CMS-10-2023-0555

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited

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